Socket or receptacle plug.



No. 794.140 PATENTED JULY 4,1905. L. J. COSTA.

SOCKET OR REGEPTAGLE PLUG.

APPLIGATION FILED APE.16.1904.

UNITED STATES Patented July 4, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS J. COSTA, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I-IALF TO DAVID HALL GARRETT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOCKET OR RECEPTACLE PLUG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,140, dated July 4, 1905.

Application filed April 16, 1904. Serial No. 203,433.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LoUIs J. Cos'rA, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Socket or Receptacle Plugs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to socket-plugs, and provides means for protecting the terminals and other metal portions of an electric socket or similar fixture whereby oxidation and other injury thereto is prevented.

It further consists of novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section; incandescent-light sockets provided with various forms of my device.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of a socket,from which extends conducting-cables 2 and 3, communicating with terminals 4 5 in the interior of the socket. The terminal 5 forms the internal screw-thread, into which the lamp or other plug connection engages.

6 designates a plug made of porcelain or similar non-conducting material composed of an exterior portion, an inner reduced neck or end, a shoulder 7 intermediate of said portion and neck, and suitable screw-threads 8 on said neck, said portion being extended considerably outwardly from the end of the socket, whereby it may be conveniently and firmly grasped to rotate the plug in either direction. On the shoulder 7 is rested the resilient packing-gasket or washer 10, it being obvious that when the plug 6 is screwed into place the washer 10 will be compressed and will form an air and moisture tight seal to the interior of the socket 1, whereby oxidation of the terminals 4 and 5 will be prevented.

I/Vhile I have shown one form of socket, it will be apparent that the plug may be adapted for use with any form of socket or receptacle.

The form of device shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings differs from that shown in Fig. 1 in that a flat Washer 11 of any resilient material is employed.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown the plug 6 as provided with a grooved neck 12, encircled by a washer 13. Beneath the neck 12 is a beveled shoulder 14, forming a watershed, by which any accumulation of moisture on the washer 13 is prevented.

Fig. 4 of the drawings shows my device as applied to a lamp or similar socket, the cup portion of which is uppermost. In this case the socket 6 is provided with a neck 12, on which is a washer 13, as shown in Fig. 3. Above the neck 12 is an extended flange 15, the upper side 16 of which is beveled. The flange 15 is of sufficient size to protect the washer 13 and the end of the socket 1, forming a roof or water-table therefor.

My device is of special advantage where incandescent lights or the like used for outdoor purposes are removed for considerable periods of time, as where parks, summer-gardens, or the like are closed for the winter season.

It is evident that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art which will come within the scope of my invention, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited in every instance to the exact construction herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a socket or receptable plug, a plug composed of an exterior portion, an inner neck and a packing-supporting shoulder on the plug intermediate of said portion and neck, said portion being extended outwardly from said socket forming a hand-grasp and the plug being composed of non-conducting material.

LOUIS J. COSTA.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, S. R. CARR. 

